OK, this isn't revolver related, but I couldn't find an appropriate forum, so it landed here. When I was younger, my father was fond of the Thompson Center Arms Contender pistols. Essentially a single fire, center break pistol with interchangeable barrels. He had quite a few barrels for it. .22, .44, and oddly enough, 30-06. I have to tell you, I have fired many large caliber handguns (.40, .44, .50), and nothing ever kicked so much as shooting a 30-06 out of a 14" barrel pistol. Dad was really into competition pistol silhouette shooting at long range. I did it a bit, and it was a blast to shoot. We always used it in the pistol configuration, but there is a rifle butt stock you can bolt on. I believe he had a .223 pistol barrel for it too. Anyhow, anyone ever play with these?

I previously owned a T/C contender with a .22 mag barrel, a .357 mag barrel and a .357 MAXIMUM Barrel (wild cat cartridge). I sold it many years ago. It was a great gun as far as accuracy goes.

I currently have a T/C Encore, which is essentially an updated, stronger version of the Contender, (they are not parts compatable though). I purchased it as a pistol with a .454 Casull barrel and equipped it with a Tasco 2x handgun scope with the intent on using it for handgun hunting. It is incredibly accurate. I have shot it out to 200 yards and was able to keep most of my shots on an 8 inch steel lollipop target. For Christmas this year, I put a rifle stock set and barrel on my wish list and ended up getting both. I converted it to a rifle configuration with a stainless fluted heavy barrel in .243. I just mounted a 6x18x40 BDC scope on it last week and took it to the range for zeroing this week. It shoots GREAT. I got sub-minute of angle groups out of it using Federal generic loads I picked up at Walmart.

It is definatly the most versitile firearm I own. I can switch it back to a pistol, in a large selection of handgun or rifle calibers, use it as a rifle and switch calibers to fit my needs, or even convert it to a muzzle loader if I wanted to. The scopes all mount direcly to the barrels (a mount is needed, but the scope stays on the barrel, not the receiver.) so it maintains zero. If I convert it back to the .454 Casull barrel tomorrow, it will still shoot to point of aim without the need to re-zero the scope. If I pull the .243 barrel/scope off and throw on a muzzle loader barrel, then switch back, again, no need to re-zero. It's pretty cool.

The Encore is far more popular than the Contender now and T/C sells a larger variety of calibers for the Encore, as do most aftermarket barrel makers, due to it's stronger design. The Contenders are still around and there are numerous caliber conversions, but they are becoming fewer and fewer as the Encore takes over the market share. If you are seriously interested in this type of firearm, I would recommend taking a look at the Encore before you buy a Contender. You will be glad you did in the long run.

-Tac